Many of us want to know what it is in the food we eat. We are label readers. But there are some who are working very hard to deny us some basic information. Monsanto and its buddy corporations are spending millions in advertisements, political donations, and lobbying to deny us this information. The basic information we need is whether a GMO (genetically modified organism) is part of a food we might eat.
We need this information because real questions about the safety of these products have been raised. They are foods which could never appear in nature because a gene is introduced into the plant that is from a different species. The safety of GMO’s is in question because they have never been thoroughly tested. We Americans are now “lab rats” in a great experiment on the safety of GMO’s. Sixty countries throughout the world have chosen not be a part of this experiment by making GMO’s illegal. They believe in the precautionary principle. In this country we too often have to prove the danger after the damage has already been done.
Some of the major GMO seeds, like “roundup ready” seeds, allow a greater amount of pesticide to be used. This in and of itself creates a greater health risk. Some GMO seeds cause the plant itself to produce a pesticide. Try as you might, these pesticides like other systemic poisons can’t be washed away. Some of these pesticides have been so overused that now there are resistant weeds. The pesticide producers are now asking for approval of more toxic pesticides.
This issue is front and center now because of the bill HR4432 which has been introduced in Congress. Some call in it the “Monsanto Dream Act” and some the “Dark Act” because it keeps consumers in the dark. The bill would prevent states from passing labeling laws to disclose the presence of a GMO in a product. Vermont for example has already passed such a law. A bill interfering with state action on this issue should be opposed by those on both the left and the right. One of the most fundamental precepts of traditional conservatism is the state’s rights. Progressives are opposed to the corporate domination of our government and food supply.
This bill will help define who is a real conservative, progressive, or corporatist. It hard to find many so called conservatives who don’t put corporate profits ahead of all other concerns. Too many so called liberals like President Obama talk a much better game than they play. Both sides of the isle like those corporate donations. A call to Representative Marino’s office yielded to usual response of no position being taken yet. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Marino and his party mates vote if this bill makes it to the floor of the House. I for one will be surprised if he opposes the bill since he has consistently voted for corporate profits over public health. If this issue is important to you, give your Representative a call a let them know how you feel.